President Clinton has signed an appropriations bill allocating $656.6 million to technology partnering and policy programs carried out by the Department of Commerce's Technology Administration, namely the Office of the Undersecretary for Technology, the Office of Technology Policy, the Office of Space Commercialization and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The bill includes an increase in funding for 65 new projects for the Advanced Technology Program. The $2.3 million appropriation for the Office of Technology Policy will be used to stimulate technology commercialization in eligible states by promoting partnerships among state governments, universities, community colleges and the private sector. Other specific provisions for the technology and policy offices include an additional $7.2 million to:

• Coordinate a partnership among the federal government, auto industry, universities and suppliers to explore new technologies for cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles.
• Assist in the development of a new national space policy.